Monday, September 10, 2007

Portlaoise Town Commission called for the release of prisoners held in the Curragh Concentration Camp as a token of peace and goodwill . The motion was passed by three votes to two , with two members abstaining .

At Mountmellick Town Commission , the Chairman Mr Peter Johnson , said - " I was there (in the Curragh) one time myself and it isn't a very pleasant place to be . I think these men should be all released ." He asked for comments . None came . Expressing disappointment , he then said -

" These men shouldn't be arrested and pegged in behind barbed wire . None of you are going to say anything about it anyway . That is a bad thing ."

[END of 'RELEASE PRISONERS!'](Next : 'They Are Held In Belfast Jail' - from the same source)

A QUESTION OF LIBERATION .......

Feminists and anti-imperialists in Ireland have often regarded each other's struggles with misunderstanding , mutual suspicion , and sometimes outright rejection . What then is the relationship between them ? Eibhlin Ni Gabhann surveys the emergence of women's liberation groups in Belfast and Dublin over the past decade or so , and some of the questions they have faced . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983.

Rita O' Hare stated : " Women both inside and outside the Republican Movement should also realise the importance of their necessary actions within the liberation struggle , not solely concentrated on women's issues , but active in all possible areas of that struggle .

In the aftermath of national liberation struggles around the world we have seen attempts made to force women who were active in those struggles alongside men back into subordinate roles in the new society . This danger cannot be overcome by standing on the sidelines . It can only be totally negated by the fullest possible involvement of determined women in the heart of that struggle . It is time that all of us faced up to these realities . "

Dick Spring and the Labour Party headed into this election campaign with four years of coalition government behind them . To observe them on the campaign trial you would never guess this , but there is , nevertheless , a noticeable resistence to them , especially amongst traditional Labour voters . Judging from Dick Spring's reception on the campaign trial it is almost certain that the party is in big trouble , at least in the Dublin area .

Ruairi Quinn bought everyone lunch in Kitty O' Shea's pub. Dick Spring stated that there will be a second election within eighteen months . " Come on , we're wasting time . Let's go , " says Dick . It's back across the river and onto the Northside Shopping Centre,Charlie Haughey's political heartland . Fianna Fail are having a press conference at 3pm that same afternoon and there are very few photographers still with Dick and Ruairi . In any event , many had been under the impression that they would have to pay for their own lunch and this had the effect of diminishing the numbers somewhat .

Dick wanders in and out , into a shop here , a fast food joint there . Two customers , who appear to be engrossed in some sort of deal , are frozen with horror as they see Dick advance towards them with hand outstretched . One of them tells Dick that he should have run the full term of Office , whilst the other is "disgusted" by what the Labour Party has done but , before the argument can proceed , Dick is pulled away by a handler to sign an autograph . Whatever one may say about Dick Spring , he is not afraid to be challenged about his four years in government ('1169...' Comment -...providing he has a 'handler' present to pull him away to sign autographs..) .

On Water Rates , Dick said he would 'change the system' : one woman said her mother was stopped a pension because she 'had a few pounds from England' , while a second woman cannot get a medical card . Dick replied that he 'will see what we can do' . In reply to men out of work that he meets , he says that what is needed is a strong Labour Party but they seem unimpressed . One of them replied that he used vote Labour until Mickodid the dirt on him. And so the travelling circus moves on.......(MORE LATER).